Questions tagged [ekev]
The weekly Torah portion of Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25)
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"And you shall place My words upon your heart" - even in exile
In parasahas Eikev (Devarim 11:18), the Torah instructs us that we:
shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they will be as frontlets ...
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Rav Aharon Kotler zt"l: closeness to Hashem achieved through Torah
Rabbi Moshe Krieger from Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah, quotes Rav Aharon Kotler zt"l and says:
A difference between the closeness to Hashem achieved through Torah compared to that achieved through ...
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Parashas Eikev: The Consolation of Exile
The Lubavitcher Rebbe is quoted in explaining that just as the theme of the haftara of this weeks parasha "Eikev" is "redemption", so too is the case with the parasha itself.
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כי לא את בניכם אשר לא ידעו... ?Is this literal
Eikev, chapter 11:1
ואהבת את השם... ושמרת משמרתו...
כי לא את בניכם אשר לא ידעו ואשר לא ראו... כי עיניכם הרואת את כל מעשה השם
Are the children excluded from this requirement to love God and keep his ...
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Missing Korach in Deuteronomy
In Parashat Korach we read that the Jews distanced themselves from the tents of Korach, Datan and Aviram (Bemidbar 16:27), and then the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up Korach and his company (...
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Did Moses throw or drop the tablets?
The Yerushalmi, corroborated by Tanhuma, says that the tablets were two large sapphire stones, and weighed too much to be possibly carried by one person. The letters God engraved on them miraculously ...
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Copper mining in ancient Israel
The Torah promises [successful] copper mining in Israel's mountains:
אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר ... וּמֵהֲרָרֶיהָ תַּחְצֹב נְחֹשֶׁת׃
a land ... from whose hills you can mine copper. (Deut 8.9)
I tried to ...
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Until when was Har Sinai on fire?
We learn in Parshat Eikev:
וָאֵ֗פֶן וָֽאֵרֵד֙ מִן־הָהָ֔ר וְהָהָ֖ר בֹּעֵ֣ר בָּאֵ֑שׁ וּשְׁנֵי֙ לֻחֹ֣ת הַבְּרִ֔ית עַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֥י יָדָֽי׃
I turned and went down the mountain, a mountain ablaze with fire, ...
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How can one learn to love our Creator?
In order to fullfil Devarim 10:12
And now, Yisroel, what doth Hashem Eloheicha require of thee, but to fear Hashem Eloheicha, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve Hashem Eloheicha ...
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Does one have to feed his dog, parrot, or goldfish before eating according to this Gemara?
The Gemara (Berachos 40a) expounds from Devarim 11:15 that one may not eat before feeding his animals:
אמר רב יהודה אמר רב אסור לאדם שיאכל קודם שיתן מאכל לבהמתו שנאמר ונתתי עשב בשדך לבהמתך והדר ...
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Is Aaron's lesson one of nepotism?
Is Aaron's lesson one of nepotism? In Exodus 32, Aaron takes the lead in creating the golden calf, but in Deuteronomy 9:20 all is forgiven because Moses prays for him. One could say the lesson here ...
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Questions regarding the wooden ark and the golden ark
In Devarim 10:1, G-d tells Moshe to carve two tablets, bring them to G-d, he will write the Ten Commandments on them, and then Moshe should make a wooden ark and place the tablets in them. Moshe makes ...
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How would the new "Moses" nation be called?
Moses recalls G-d's words following the Golden Calf, to the whole Jewish nation (Deut 9,14):
הֶ֤רֶף מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ וְאַשְׁמִידֵ֔ם וְאֶמְחֶ֣ה אֶת־שְׁמָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ אֽוֹתְךָ֔ ...
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Which individuals does Ramban say do not enjoy providential treatment by G-d?
Ramban on Deuteronomy 11:13:
""בכל לבבכם ובכל נפשכם" - והלא כבר הזכיר בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך אלא אזהרה ליחיד ואזהרה לצבור לשון רש"י מספרי (עקב יג). ובאור הענין כי השם לא יעשה הנסים ...
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How is a reference to Egypt comforting when the concern is that the enemy is many?
In the beginning of Ekev, Moshe describes wonderful things that will befall the Jews when they adhere to God's will. It says among them (7:16–19) that "you shall consume all the peoples…. ...
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Why all the interruptions in Moshe's reproof in parshat Ekev?
In Devarim 9:7, Moshe reproves Bnai Yisrael by stating that you were rebellious from the time you came out of Egypt until you came to this point. In verse 8, he starts by focusing on what happened at ...
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Does Devarim 11:10 make some indirect reference to the shaduf irrigation system?
The end of the verse in Devarim 11:10 says "...You watered the green garden with your foot." (rough translation.)
My brother, an anthropology professor who studied Biblical history, explained to me, ...
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Translation of key words in Devarim 10:2 and 10:4
Follow up to my other question regarding what was written on the two tablets:
Devarim 10:2:
ואכתוב על הלחות את הדברים אשר היו על הלוחות הראשונים אשר שברת
I shall write on the tablets the words that ...
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What are the "easy" Mitzvos that one steps on with his heel?
Rashi in the beginning of Parshas Eikev here brings a Chazal that says "If one keeps the easy Mitzvos that one (tends to) tread on with their heel" then G-D will reward them with his Covenant and ...
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Only arm tefillin are a sign?
The four parshas of tefillin appear slightly differently each time when the Torah describes the mitzvah.
Shemos 13:9
וְהָיָה֩ לְךָ֨ לְא֜וֹת עַל־יָדְךָ֗ וּלְזִכָּרוֹן֙ בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֔יךָ לְמַ֗עַן ...
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Are there contradictory verses describing G-d's uniqueness?
My own translation of verses.
Devarim (Deut.) 4:39 - "You should now, today, and return it to your heart that the Lord is G-d in the heavens and the earth below. There is no other"
Devarim (Deut.) 10:...
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Were there two Arks constructed, one by Bezaleel and one by Moshe?
In Devarim 10:1-5 G_d was speaking with Moshe about hewing two new tablets and then in verse 3 it says, (Moshe speaking) "So I made an ark of acacia wood, hewed two tablets of stone like the first ...
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Where do we learn that honey of the 7 species is from dates?
The Torah tells us Israel is "a land of olive oil and honey" (Deut. 8:8). This is interpreted as date honey, not bee honey. Where in the sources is it taught that this is date honey?
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Does Devarim 10:12 consist of four demands or just one?
Devarim 10:12
And now, Israel, what does HaShem your G-d ask, require, or beseech
of you but, except, rather than… 1) to fear HaShem your G-d, 2) to
walk (in obedience) in all His ways (in ...
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Talmud Megilla 21a seems to have the reasoning reversed
Talmud Megilla 21a discusses two conflicting verses about how Moses acted when on Mt. Sinai. The verses are (the full verses are in the margin of the linked Talmud page, mentioned above):
Devarim 9:9 ...
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Reading God's 4 letter name
In both the Torah reading and הפטרה of פרשת עקב (from 49th and 50th chapters of ישעיה), we find some examples of when the written word in the Torah or Prophets scroll is the four letter name of God, ...
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Deuteronomy 11:13
If serving with the heart (Devarim 11:13) is called prayer (according to Ta'anit 2a), then what is the serving with the soul or serving with all one has in his ability mean?
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Why is Avodah Shebalev (service of the heart) known as prayer?
Ta'anit 2a (Chazal) teaches that the service of the heart is prayer.
But how does one knows its prayer? When I think of service of the heart for example I think of all my whole being acting, ...
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What does shomo-a tishm'u in the shema prayer mean?
The second paragraph of the shema begins with "and it will come to pass that if you continually hearken to my commandments..."
Apparently shomo-a tishm'u means continually hearken but I would like ...
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Why are some parts of the second paragraph of the Shema in the singular and some in plural?
The second paragraph of the Shema is mainly worded in the plural.
But there are some parts in the singular. Why is that? The parts in the singular are in bold text below.
וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמעַ ...
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The test of the bread from heaven
The verse of Shemot 16:4 tells that HaShem will cause bread to rain (come down) from heaven to (humble; Devarim 8:16 and) test the people whether or not they will walk in His Torah.
The literal ...
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What is the purpose of the word וְהָיָ֗ה in Devarim 11:13?
Deuteronomy 11:13 says:
וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מִצְוֺתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י
מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם לְאַהֲבָ֞ה אֶת־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙
וּלְעָבְד֔וֹ בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכָל־...
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Why is the word "ger" translated as both convert and stranger in one sentence?
What is the basis for translating the word "Ger" in Devarim 10:19?
The verse is often translated "You shall love the convert because you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Why not, "Love the ...
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Why does the Chumash have to explain what "thirst" means?
In Parshat Eikev, Moshe recounts all the challenges of the time in the desert. In Devarim 8:15 we read,
15.Who led you through that great and awesome desert, [in which were] snakes, vipers and ...
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Was B'nai Yisra'el really rebellious the entire 40 years (Devarim 9:7)?
Deuteronomy 9:7 says:
זְכֹר֙ אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֔ח אֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר־הִקְצַ֛פְתָּ אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לְמִן־הַיּ֞וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֣אתָ ׀ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם
עַד־בֹּֽאֲכֶם֙ עַד־הַמָּק֣וֹם ...
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Did the Israelites walk bare foot in the desert, or did they have shoes (comment on Deut. 8:4)?
Deuteronomy 8:4 says
שִׂמְלָ֨תְךָ֜ לֹ֤א בָֽלְתָה֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְרַגְלְךָ֖ לֹ֣א בָצֵ֑קָה
זֶ֖ה אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃
Your clothes did not get old upon you, neither did your feet swell,
these forty ...
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Wasn't Korach the star of the show?
In Parshas Eikev (Devarim 11:6), Moshe recounts the results of the dispute between Korach and Moshe, namely the ground opening its mouth and swallowing them up. There is one significant person ...
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Rashi to Devarim 11 (11). In what way is mountain land superior to the land of the plain?
Rashi on Devarim 11 (11) "But the land, to which you pass to possess, is a land of mountains and valleys and absorbs water from the rains of heaven” says
The mountain land is superior to the land ...
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Hashem to Moshe - *your* nation?
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי, קוּם רֵד מַהֵר מִזֶּה--כִּי שִׁחֵת עַמְּךָ, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ מִמִּצְרָיִם: סָרוּ מַהֵר, מִן-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִם--עָשׂוּ לָהֶם, מַסֵּכָה. (דברים ט:יב)
Why is Hashem ...
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Why can't Hashem chase the people out of Canaan quickly?
Exodus 23:29 says that Hashem promised not to drive out the indigenous peoples of Canaan too quickly lest the wild animals become too plentiful. This is repeated in Deuteronomy 7:22. However the ...
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Why not list the 7 Minim in order with no second "Eretz"?
Devarim 8:8 ארץ חיטה ושעורה, וגפן ותאנה ורימון; ארץ-זית שמן, ודבש. The Gemara in Berachos 41: says in the name of either Rabbi Yosef or Rabbi Yitzchok that the order of the Brachos would depend on ...
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the land from which you brought us out = Egypt?
Dvarim 9:28 reads:
פֶּן־יֹֽאמְר֗וּ הָאָרֶץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֽוֹצֵאתָ֣נוּ מִשָּׁם֒ מִבְּלִי֙ יְכֹ֣לֶת יְהוָ֔ה לַֽהֲבִיאָ֕ם אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וּמִשִּׂנְאָת֣וֹ אוֹתָ֔ם הֽוֹצִיאָ֖ם לַֽהֲמִתָ֥ם ...
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Referencing Iron before the Iron Age
A guest brought up this question at the shabbos table, and no one had an answer.
In D'Varim 8:9 it says "...a land whose stones are iron...". The question this guest asked was: How is it that the ...
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Why are the words "mezuzos" written differently in the Torah (Rashi)?
There are two paragraphs in the Torah where the word mezuzos appears. The first, in Vaeschanan (6:9), is written with a kubutz (no vav)- מְזֻזוֹת . The second, in Eikev (11:20), it is written with a ...
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צִרְעָה Pshat or definition
וְגַם אֶת הַצִּרְעָה יְשַׁלַּח יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּם עַד אֲבֹד הַנִּשְׁאָרִים וְהַנִּסְתָּרִים מִפָּנֶיךָ (Deuteronomy 7:20)
What is the הַצִּרְעָה mean in this posuk?
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Mezuzah and long life a good investment
It says in the Posuk:
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ
The next Posuk says:
לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָאֲדָמָה
What is the lesson Learnt?
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Switch in verse about teaching
The Posuk (דברים יא,יט) starts off:
וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אֹתָם: Teach THEM
In the plural. However, the Posuk ends:
וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ: When YOU lay down and get up
In the singular. Why the ...
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Why the Heel of the foot? (Parshas Ekev)
Parshas Ekev starts off
וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים
Rashi says on this:
אם המצות הקלות שאדם דש בעקביו תשמעון:
What is the significance of the so called lite Mitzvos which ...
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